Photography Q&A with Philip Silverman

As part of the Ready Steady Pro Q&A Series we ask photographers from all backgrounds, niches and skill levels to answer 5 questions for the blog. This week, we hear from Phil Silverman of Philip Silverman Photography.

As part of the Q&A I ask each participant to write a short Bio about themselves for inclusion here on the blog. This is what Phil had to say:

We are based in a village in North Yorkshire and serving the surrounding areas and nationwide. I have been shooting seriously since the late 90’s at the tail end of the dominance of film, learning on slide film (Fuji Sensia 100) and Black and White (Ilford HP5 and FP4) at night school in 1987 and processing and developing those in my own darkroom. I started submitting to photo libraries at this time and thistaught me the disciplined shooting that I still adhere to. Moving over to digital I learned basic PP and developed my skills from there as they were needed. The aim all the time is to get it right in camera which stems from the film days although digital means now that there is far more latitude in correcting and enhancing shots that would never have been possible then. A time after this a good friend who I got to know through my wife asked me to accompany him on some of his wedding shoots as a second shooter but with also the aim of learning the trade and craft of wedding photography. He mentored me for approximately 2 years and we shot quite a few weddings in a lot of different places and different conditions which stood me in good stead for when I decided to go it alone.

Here’s what Phil had to say when we him asked the 5 questions:

Question 1: What’s the one single thing that has had the largest positive impact on your photography so far?

Confidence and the ability to know that you’re capable of handling curved balls on the run. (And my wife J)

Question 2:If you could start over again from scratch, what would be the one thing you would do differently?

Be a whole lot better at post processing than I was also have enough money put away in order to be able to do it full time.

Question 3: Who is the most influential photographer to you, and why? (Or, Which photographer do you admire the most, and why?)

My Dad for the sheer knowledge he has imparted into me and still does from time to time as he still helps me with any problems I may have. For admiration of their work, for weddings it has to be Brett Florens, although I don’t emulate his style he has great advice to give on every aspect of the business, for my other passion, landscapes Joe Cornish and Charlie Waite.

Question 4: If you able to give just one piece of advice to someone just starting out in their photographic career, what would it be?

Spend time being mentored by someone who knows the ins and outs of the game and price yourself accordingly, you’re doing yourself and the industry no good whatsoever giving your work away for peanuts. Take time to learn the craft properly.

Question 5:Paint a picture: What is the one thing / place / person you would love to photograph and why? It can be a person or a moment from history. As part of this answer also tell us about what gear you’d use, what lighting, what looks, wardrobes, poses and expressions you’d make use.

I would love to photograph tigers in the wild and try and convey their sheer majesty and publicise the fact that they are currently on the brink of being wiped out forever and that we all must do something to save them.

Well, thanks so much for taking part in the Q&A Phil!. For more information about Phil and his work you can find him at all of the following places: